"Grumman TBF "Avenger" comes to a stop after making a qualification landing on a training escort carrier, circa mid-1943. At right, the plane director (in yellow cap &amp; jersey) runs out to direct the pilot. Plane handlers and hook release men are running out from the catwalks":

"Plane director (in yellow cap and jersey) guides plane handlers (blue caps and jerseys) in "Spotting" a SBD-5 Bomber (BU# 28360) on the hangar deck of an escort carrier, circa 1943-1945. Ship was on training duty at the time":

"Plane captain (brown cap and jersey) attaches a ground wire from a metal part of a Douglas SBD Bomber to a metal part of the flight deck. Ground wires are always attached to planes as soon as they have been parked. Photographed on board an escort carrier on training duty, circa 1943-1945":

"Flight deck officer motions "pull the chocks" with his thumbs, as chockmen remove chocks from the wheels of a Grumman F6F-3 "Hellcat" fighter in preparation for take off from a training escort carrier, circa mid-1943. Note tape on plane's .50cal. gun muzzles":

""Chockmen" ready to pull chocks from the wheels of a Grumman F6F-2 "Hellcat" fighter, when given the order by the flight deck officer. Note goggles so they can keep their heads up in the blast of the slipstream. They wear the blue caps & jerseys of the plane handling crew. Photographed on board a training escort carrier, circa mid-1943":

"Douglas SBD "DAUNTLESS" and Grumman TBF "AVENGER" ready for takeoff from an escort carrier on training duty, circa mid-1943. The flight deck officer is in left center, while chock men stand ready to pull chocks on his order. Note yellow training unit markings, and red-bordered national insignias on planes":

"FM "WILDCAT" Fighter starts its take-off run as chockmen pull chocks from under its wheels, on board an escort carrier, circa 1943-1945. Ship appears to be USS CORREGIDOR (CVE-58):"

"Flight Surgeon and two hospital corpsmen (white caps and jerseys with red crosses) at their flight station in the starboard catwalk, amidships, on a training escort carrier, during World War II. They stand ready with medical kits, stretcher, blankets and other emergency gear":

""Hot Papas", the asbestos-suited fire rescue crew at their flight station in the mid-ships starboard catwalk of a training escort carrier, circa 1943-1945":

""Spoiler, the Original Flight Deck Dope" shows the "Tools" of his trade: Mind on anything but his job, cap unbuckled, no life belt while ship is underway, leaning on the propeller of an SBD. His lack of care wrecks equipment, damages planes, and gets himself hurt. Posed on board a training escort carrier, circa 1943-1945":

"Men hoist a Grumman F6F-3 "Hellcat" fighter on board an aircraft carrier, at San Diego, California, circa mid-1943. Taken at NAS San Diego carrier docks. This plane, an early model F6F-3, wears training unit markings":

"Flight Deck "Talker" (white cap and jersey) mans his station in the catwalk of a training escort carrier, circa 1943-1945":

"Fly Control Station on the island of a training escort carrier, circa 1943-1945. The air officer is at right, with his "Talker", who is putting up the green flag indicating the ship is ready for flight ops. Also in fly control are a signalman, at his lamp and an observer, with binoculars":

"Squadron Leading Chief (in white cap and jersey) awaits readiness report from the pilot of a TBF, on board a training escort carrier, circa mid-1943. When he has reports from all pilots, he will report to the flight deck officer":

"One of several loudspeakers strategically placed around the flight deck of a training escort carrier, so orders may be passed to the crew during flight quarters, despite aircraft noise. Taken circa 1943-1945":

""Flight Deck Warning" and "Flight Deck Crash" controls in the fly control station of a training escort carrier, circa 1943-1945. They are used by the fly control officer to warn flight deck personnel":

"Flight Deck Officer signals "Thumbs Up" to fly control. This means he has received readiness reports from the squadron leading chief, who has checked each plane at "Fly 3" to make certain that each is ready to fly. Taken on a training escort carrier, circa 1943-1945. Note SBDs and TBFs in background":

"Catapult Crew Member (green cap and jersey) with his Talker (white cap and jersey) at the catapult control station in the port catwalk of a training escort carrier, circa 1943-1945. The signal board beside him connects with the catapult machinery room. Note knife":

"Catapult Crew (green caps and jerseys) receive instructions from the catapult officer, on a training escort carrier flight deck, circa 1943-1945. They are stationed in the port catwalk, near the catapult mechanism. Man at left is holding a tail holdback unit":

"Catapult Machinery Operator (in green jersey) stands by the control panel of the catapult machinery room of an escort carrier, on training duty, circa 1943-1945. His hand is on one of the push buttons for the signal light connecting with the signal board in the port catwalk":

"Catapult Machinery Operator stands by for the signal to catapult a plane off the flight deck, in the catapult machinery room of an escort carrier on training duty, circa 1943-1945":

"Plane Director (in yellow cap and jersey) gives last minute plane handling instructions to a plane handler, during flight operations on a training escort carrier, circa 1943-1945. The plane director is designated "Fly 1" because of his position on the flight deck":

"Plane Inspectors (green jerseys and green caps with black stripe) check the landing gear of an SBD, on the flight deck of a training escort carrier, circa mid-1943. They are troubleshooters and emergency repairmen, to make sure a plane is ready for a flight. Note bomb rack under wing":

"Aircraft Refueling Crew in red caps and jerseys refuel a Grumman TBF-1 on the flight deck of a training escort carrier, circa Mid-1943. Note Team Man standing by with fire extinguisher. Planes are refueled as soon as possible after landing, and the "Smoking Lamp" is out throughout the ship during exercise":

"Officer-in-Charge of the Hangar Deck (Designated by "V2 H.D. Chief" on Jersey) gives instructions to plane directors, on the hangar deck of a training escort carrier, circa 1943-1945. Note yellow caps and jerseys. A Douglas SBD-5 (Bu# 28360) is in the background":

"Escort Carrier "Chockman" climbs from the catwalk onto the flight deck to chock the wheels of an aircraft that has just landed, c. 1943-1945. Note 20mm gun behind him, and well worn deck planking":

"Flight Deck Plane Handlers converge on a Grumman TBF that has just made a good qualification landing on a training escort carrier, circa Mid-1943. Note hook release men about to disengage the arresting wire, after which the plane handlers will push the TBF, into takeoff position. Note red-surrounded national insignia on this plane. Also note fire party in catwalk, between plane's wheels":

"Plane Handlers on board a training escort carrier, circa 1943-1945. Large white numerals on their jerseys indicate the unit they belong to. Note inflatable life belts":

"Boatswain's Mate Pipes a Command Over the Loudspeaker System and Voice Tube from "Fly Control" position of an escort carrier, circa 1943-1945. Note fancy lanyard on his "call":

"Air Officer and his "Talker" in "Fly Control" position on the island of a training escort carrier, circa 1943-1945. Note Officer's leather jacket, talker's white cap and jersey, and signal lamp":

"SBD, F6F and TBF Aircraft are respotted for take off at "FLY 3", on a U.S. Navy Escort Carrier (CVE-9 Type), circa Mid-1943. Note 2-way tiedowns on wings and tails, with wheels chocked. Planes wear yellow training unit markings, and the red-outlined national insignia":

"Aerographer's mate Walter L. Timmons Records temperature, humidity and pressure data radioed down from a weather balloon sent aloft from the carrier. He is working with a RAU-2 Radio SOUDE receiving and recording equipment":

"Pincus Yanofsky works in the ship's Aero logy Department examining and plotting wind direction and velocity":

"Plane captains reading, playing checkers and otherwise killing time while awaiting the return of their planes from a mission":

"LT. Bond, and Aviation Metal Smith 3/c Allen Wood keep the aircraft planning board up to date with current data on the status of all planes":

"PhM2/c William Rivera checks the temperature and pulse of EM1/c Carey Courson, prior to the performance of an Epigastria Hernia operation":